International Seafarers Day, is observed by the United Nations’ International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to celebrate the unique contribution made by seafarers to the world. Under the umbrella of this year’s theme, ‘Seafarers Matter’ the IMO wanted to particularly engage ports and seafarer centres to showcase best practices in seafarer support and welfare and demonstrate how much seafarers matter.
The annual Day of the Seafarer was established in a resolution adopted by the 2010 Diplomatic Conference in Manila to adopt the revised Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. The resolution encourages Governments, shipping organisations, companies, ship-owners and all other parties concerned to duly and appropriately promote the Day of the Seafarer and take action to celebrate it meaningfully.